FAMILY-OWNED RIVERSIDE CATERING – A BOERNE LEGACY - Boerne Business Monthly
The Zoeller family continues to provide Kendall County and other area hill country towns with excellent cuisine. From the Riverside Meat Market to Riverside Catering, the tradition continues. Cindy Zoeller is the grill master and chef, using her expertise and knowledge learned from the Pappas Family Restaurants’ chefs in both Houston and Austin. She is chef-trained by the best in the business.
Cindy was introduced to the Zoeller family when she met Stephen Zoeller over eighteen years ago. He happened to be grilling at a barbecue in Johnson City. Stephen’s parents, Harold Ray Zoeller and Mary Lou (Pfeiffer) Zoeller owned and operated the Riverside Meat Market in Boerne for over 35 years. The Zoeller and Pfeiffer families have been in Boerne since the mid-1800s. The market was at the corner of South Main Street and River Road. They offered the best barbecue in town and high-quality cuts of meat, as well as grocery items. The Zoellers sold the business in 2012 to the first of a few owners. The market and pink house behind it were demolished a few years ago.
Riverside Catering is owned and operated by Cindy and Stephen Zoeller. The couple moved to Boerne in 2007 when Stephen accepted a position as the Kendall County Extension Officer. They began the catering business in 2009. At first, Cindy utilized the Riverside Meat Market to provide the meats needed for the weekend events they catered. As the business grew, the company expanded into a full commercial kitchen at their home base on the Pfeiffer Ranch off Ammann Road. Because of its excellent menus and professional service, Riverside Catering has evolved into a full-time working operation. The kitchen has been expanded with three additions to serve the continued growth of corporations, nonprofits and families needing that extra care for their special events. The regular staff consists of from ten to fifteen extended family members and friends. Six of these have been with Cindy and Stephen since the beginning. For larger events, Cindy uses a staffing company.
A Riverside Meat Market tradition continues at Riverside Catering; the meat is cooked only over an oak coal fire. There are many calls for an open grill at some events. That seems to create some ambience as guests gather around the grill to visit and watch the progress of those high-quality steaks being cooked. Riverside Catering offers a variety of food; the website has a delicious array of eight or nine menus. Selections include beef, pork, chicken, Mexican, fajitas, barbecue and pasta. However, Cindy will customize any menu according to event planners’ preferences. She will ensure food is served for a variety of dietary restrictions. And, she has gone “above and beyond” to provide a different menu for a mother of the bride, different from the bride and groom and their guests. Outstanding customer service at its best!
Riverside Catering offers impeccable food and service for all occasions from “happy to sad”. Catering events during the week has been busy even though typically July and August are slower months for the industry. Business has never been better on the weekends with multiple crews, including Cindy and Stephen, splitting their time at overlapping events. When asked what a work week looks like Cindy responded, “Usually I spend Tuesday ordering food and supplies for the upcoming week and weekend. On Monday I had an event so I also spent time reorganizing the supplies afterwards. This weekend we have an 80th birthday celebration and a wedding party brunch.” She explained that she hosts tastings at the Riverside Catering commercial kitchen during the week and on weekends to accommodate the planners’ or families’ schedules.
Cindy recalls something that happened fifteen years ago that keeps coming back to her: a couple’s wedding cake was delivered by the baker still partially frozen. Unfortunately the bridal cake knife was unsuited to handle a frozen cake. It took much longer than usual to saw through the layers, resulting in a very long waiting line. And then, once the cake started melting in the Summer heat, the layers started sliding off the base. That is a situation that Cindy has ensured hasn’t reoccurred, or will occur in the future.
All the plating is provided by Riverside Catering, from basic acrylic to china upgrades. Her staff serves smaller plated events as well as larger buffets and receptions. As stated on the website: “from simple backyard picnics to elegant china, chargers and crystal,” Cindy and Stephen will make it happen. They love what they do and they have repeat business as well as new business where other clients are recommending them. They provide excellent care for any occasion and will travel south to San Antonio, east to New Braunfels and Seguin, and west to Kerrville and the surrounding areas around Boerne.
Riverside Catering is highly recommended so check out the website, follow on social media, and call to book your event!
http://www.facebook.com/RiversideCateringTX/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riversidecatertx
830-765-2479 info@riverside-catering.com